CONTENTS
Staples Players takes on their very first production of Les Miserables, which involves hours of rehearsal and planning.
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Opinions
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3 | Editorial
Lack of space in the library stresses students out
4 | Selectman Race
Meet the candidates for this year's election
6 | News in Brief
Updates on the Coach's Handbook and Cell Phone Ban
3 | Self Care
Finding self care during application season
must-reads
8 | Fall Vibes
All the factors that make the perfect autumn
9 | Teacher Costumes
What your favorite teachers are being for Halloween
10 | Sports Recap
Find out about athletes of the month and Staples sports
12 | Locker Decor
How lockers are making a comeback
Selectman Race
13 | Silvermans
The fall season for a fan-favorite farm
14 | Pep Rally
A letter from a teacher about the pep rally
15 | Grades & AI
The effects of grades and tutoring on students
16 | Les Mis
Find out about the latest production from Staples Players
14 04 Read the letter from an anonymous teacher about the fall pep rally
10
staff
Meet the candidates running for this year's selectman race, featuring some of their goals for Westport
Sports Recap
Learn about the athletes of the month and a recap of different sports teams
Creative Directors
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Editors-In-Chief
Andi Jacobs, Sophie Smith
Managing Editor Zara Saliba
Associate Managing Editor(s) Zander Bauer
Camille Blundell & Bianca Mastocciolo
Business Manager
Olivia Saw Advisors
Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco
Les Mis
Find out about Les Mis, the Staples Players production coming this November
Editors
Camilla Garfield
Jasper Hultgren
Sophia Jaramillo
Bailey Lillvis
Madeleine McMahon
Bianca Reidy
Piper Salik
Editorial
Lack of seating limits productive and social spaces
The Editorial Board voted unanimously in favor of this opinion.
The hallway barely contains the growing crowd. Over the noise, someone yells, “There are no spots left!” as students shove and push to get into the most coveted place in school: the library.
In recent years, as more seating around the school has been removed, the library has become overcrowded and transformed from a quiet study area into a loud social hub. This lack of available seating leaves students frustrated as they struggle to find spaces to study, socialize and recharge.
Free periods at Staples are valuable time for students to relax or complete work, especially given the school’s rigorous academic environment. Even during lunch, many students want to escape the loud, messy cafeteria and find a calmer setting.
Adding more social seating throughout the school and particularly in and around the cafeteria would help restore the library to a quiet study space while giving students appropriate places to gather.
For instance, Greenwich High School has a designated area in the cafeteria for students to socialize even if they are not eating. This makes the cafeteria the social space in the building, leaving the library to serve as the quiet study space.
The administration can—and should— create spaces that support productivity and wellbeing during free periods.
Staples could adopt a similar approach by transforming underused areas—such as the space outside of the pool, the area across from the library, the bridge and the corners of hallways—into social zones equipped with tables and chairs.
Seating for social and academic purposes is only effective when it is practical. Although relaxed
options like couches might seem appealing, they often take up too much space and are underused. Currently, the auditorium has many couches and high tables that are disorganized and impractical for either studying or socializing. The Board recommends installing traditional tables and chairs to maximize the usability of space. The library, too, can be rearranged to better accommodate students. The quiet zone offers individual seats and maximizes study space, but armchairs and an excessive number of desktop computers occupy too much room. Replacing these areas with single-use chairs and tables would increase the amount of students who can study in the library.
While the quiet zone’s furniture works well, it is not secluded enough to block out the rest of the library’s noise. Converting the Think or
Ask classrooms, located on the sides of the library, into new quiet sections might be an effective solution that also frees up more space.
If no changes are made, this issue will only worsen, especially once the phone ban takes effect. With the phone ban encouraging students to have face-to-face interactions, students will seek spaces to socialize. And if the library remains their only option, it will become even louder. In the past, students combatted the noise with the noise-cancelling feature on AirPods, but these, too, will be banned under the new policy. With no effective method to block out the noise, studying in the library will become nearly impossible. Students need more effective spaces for both studying and socializing. This goal is entirely achievable with thoughtful rearrangement and modest additions. The administration can—and should—create spaces that support productivity and wellbeing during free periods.
Graphic by Bianca Mastocciolo
Meet the Candidates
A preview into the 2025 Westport First Selectman election
Dylan Robbin ʼ28 Paper Editor
Three candidates are battling for the position of Westport’s First Selectman. With the election fast approaching, many are uninformed about who each of these candidates are. I had the opportunity to sit down with each of these candidates to discuss their background and what they thought was most important to both Westport and Staples students.
Kevin Christie, the unanimously endorsed Democratic candidate, used his finance background and public service
on the Board of Education to learn the skills he believes make him fit to lead Westport. Before serving on the Board of Education, Christie spent over 15 years in investment banking and corporate strategy at firms such as IBM, Merril Lynch and Madison Square Garden company. It was there where he managed billions of dollars in transactions and brought people together by leading teams.
“My success came from seeing the big picture, building trust and also knowing the details,” Christie said. Christie also values the concept of having his “door open to all Westporters.”
“Local government is here to serve and support Westporters and advocate for what they need, and open government is a critical part of that,” Christie said. “So much of our campaign has been focused on voter outreach, and meeting Westporters, hearing what’s on their minds and what’s important to them, and that doesn’t stop on Nov. 4.”
Most recently, Christie made the difficult decision to
recuse himself from the Board of Education vote on the employment of former boys’ soccer coach Russell Oost-Lievense due to personal reasons and the belief of a fair due process. However, Christie wants to assure Westport that he will always have a voice in difficult situations. “As CEO of the town, I am responsible for the hiring, firing and retention, and I am more than capable, happy and able to make those decisions, and I continue to stand by my decision to recuse myself from the soccer case,” Christie said.
Don O’Day, a former lifelong Democrat and a social liberal but a fiscal conservative, changed parties recently to run for office endorsed by the Re-
publican Party. With Westport having the highest number of Democrat registered voters (41.86% according to the town of Westport Connecticut), O’Day still believes he can win this election running as a Republican because he believes he is the best candidate.
What’s most important to all candidates, is that everyone who can vote, does.”
“I am not asking anybody to change their party,” O’Day said. “I am just asking them to select who they believe is the best candidate. And at the end of the day, a Republican doesn’t plow the snow off your streets, the town does, and that town reports into the First Selectman.”
O’Day furthers this senti-
Kevin Christie
Don O’Day
Graphic by Bailey Lillvis ’27
ment by expressing the necessity of nonpartisanship in Westport.
“Political Parties are important nationally, but they really shouldn’t be too important at the local level,” O’Day said.
O’Day believes he is the best candidate for First Selectman due to his experience as the CFO and managing director at Citigroup, his achievements as the chairman of the Board of Education, his current position on the RTM and his 30+ years living in Westport where he has raised three sons through the school system.
“Under my tenure [as Board of Education Chairman], Staples was the number one High School in the state for the first time,” O’Day said. “So that was something I was particularly proud of.”
O’Day believes that Westport has not been able to get things done quickly, yet he has proved he is capable of doing
just that with his work in leading the school building committee for Coleytown Middle School that was closed due to mold.
“It was my job to renovate [CMS] as quickly as possible… and the challenge was doing it during Covid,” O’Day said. “That showed me I had the management skills to be able to lead that entire project, and it was done on time and under budget.”
David Rosenwaks is the first Independent party endorsed candidate in West-
port’s history. Since moving to Westport with his family five years ago, Rosenwaks has immersed himself with everything Westport has to offer.
“I spend 100% of my time, outside my family, going to everything in town,” Rosenwaks said. “I attend Team Westport meetings on a regular basis, I graduated from the Citizens Police Academy, I am an appointed official on the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, I go to Senior Center events, library events, the Westport Country Playhouse every month for their stage readings… So I’ve really embedded myself in this town and in an unprecedented way for someone who only arrived here five years ago.”
Rosenwaks’ love for the greatness of Westport led to his decision to run for RTM and now First Selectman.
“I found myself caring in a way that I’ve never cared about
the place I live as much, and I want to be here for decades, [...] and I feel like as a leader of the town, I can help navigate and unite the people [of Westport],” Rosenwaks said.
Before serving on the RTM, Rosenwaks’ management experience on Wall Street, as well as a career in the arts, gave him the leadership skills to run for public office.
“I’ve navigated both worlds [high finance and arts] successfully, and in both cases, I had to be a leader,” he said.
As an Independent candidate, Rosenwaks believes his key to winning is to take party politics out of the election.
“By taking party politics out of it, we can make it more about Westport,’ Rosenwaks said, “and can actually see more action, and less inaction.”
David Rosenwaks
Graphic by Phoebe Rosenberg ’27
Photos contributed by Kevin Christie, Don O’Day and David Rosenwaks
News in brief
Phone bans set to begin Nov. 5
Sophie Smith ʼ26 Editor-in-Chief
Students will be required to place their cell phones in their lockers from 8 a.m.-2:40 p.m starting on Nov. 5. This ban also extends to all wearable technology that connects to the internet such as wireless headphones and smartwatches. An extra five minute passing period will be added at the end of the day for students to retrieve their personal devices before buses depart.
If a student is caught with a personal device for the first time, the student will face one after school detention, the device will be confiscated in the APs office until dismissal and a parent or guardian will be notified. If the student is caught a second time, an additional detention will be given and a parent and guardian will have
to either retrieve the phone during school hours or give verbal consent for the phone to be given back to the student. If the behavior is repeated, the device will be handed in to the AP’s office each school day for one week, and the student will be assigned a one day in-school suspension.
The administration will not be conducting backpack checks to enforce this policy. “The Wilton visit was clear, there is a strong element of the honor system here and I think that's quite respectful to our kids actually,” Superintendent Thomas Scarice said. “I think what we’ll find is [students] are going to see there is incredible value to this. And I think by and large we’re going to see incredible support.”
Staples has 1850 lockers in the building, but the majority have not been used for over 15 years. Over the summer, the
custodial staff worked to fix block cylinders that had fro zen over time. Now, all 1625 students are assigned a locker with up-to-date combinations in PowerSchool.
After the ban is in place, the committee plans to meet again to receive feedback. They also plan to send out an additional climate survey to gather feed back for a larger audience.
“The committee will contin ue to meet over the course of the year to see how things are going,” Principal Stafford W. Thomas Jr. said. “And to get the lay of the land in terms of how things are going at Staples.”
Staples High School publishes first ever coaches handbook
Lucy Basso ʼ27 Inklings Ambassador
Alex Gordonos ʼ27 Staff Writer
The Staples High school athletic department introduced the first ever coaches’ handbook this fall. The handbook sets clear expectations for coaches to ensure team safety, explains proper ways of reporting and supporting athletes' physical and men-
tal health and emphasizes that student athletes are primarily students.
“The goal of a handbook is to have a one stop shop,” Athletic Director VJ Sarullo said. “It's just providing additional resources to coaches to help them do their jobs.”
The idea for the handbook began in the summer of 2024, when administrators started gathering examples of coaching handbooks from Wilton, Weston and the Connecticut
Athletic Directors Association. The final draft was approved and published in August 2025.
“I think it's always a good idea to have things down in writing that we feel are really important,” JV girls’ volleyball coach Brendan Giolittio said.
The coaches handbook clearly outlines what type of communications should take place between parties via a “chain of command.” This outlining of acceptable communications is aimed at ensuring
that any issues can be ironed out appropriately and quickly.
The handbook also outlines certain topics which are left entirely to the coaches discretion, including playing time, tryouts and selections, strategy, performance of other student-athletes and captain selection.
“Open and ongoing communication between the coaches and athletic department staff is essential to the continued success of our athletic department,” Sarullo said.
Graphic by Zara Saliba '26
Protect your peace
Staying grounded during application season
Zander Bauer ʼ26 Associate Managing Editor
While senior year should be a time of celebration and freedom, the first semester presents something else: the long dreaded application season.
Between deadlines creeping up, endless questions of “Where are you applying?” and the subtle (and not so subtle) competition among classmates, we forget about the most important thing of all: self care.
Self-care sounds like something adults advise just to fill an awkward silence, almost like the automatic “drink more water” response you hear when you mention a headache. The difference is that during application season, self-care actually matters because it keeps you from burning out before you even hit submit.
The stress stems not only from completing common apps and tracking deadlines but also from the realization we are actually growing up and about to say “good-bye” to our childhood. That thought alone can be more stressful than applications themselves. It almost forces us to focus so much on our future selves that we forget about our present self. It’s pretty ironic, considering the whole point of applying to college is to create a better life for that future self.
Self care is not only mountaintop yoga at sunrise or meditation at a luxurious retreat. For me, running and organizing my room (which apparently qualifies as “fun” in my current hectic
state of senior year) helps me manage stress. But self care for other people might be baking or watching a comfort movie. Honestly, whatever keeps you from crying over your 100th supplemental essay counts as self care.
But there’s one activity that does NOT qualify as “self-care,”and you might not like hearing it: scrolling on Tiktok or Instagram reels. It’s so tempting to resort back to social media doom scrolling when you need to destress, but
Self-care doesn’t have to look impressive or be aesthetic
in the long run it leaves you feeling worse than when you started. My For You page is constantly filled with “stats that got this student rejected from ___” videos, featuring someone with a 4.9 GPA and a 1600 SAT score. At that point, any hope I had pretty much disappears.
Self-care is supposed to help you escape that spiral, not feed into it. So maybe instead of doom-scrolling to find unre alistic, “perfect” college stats, try doing something that distracts you from exactly that. Go for a walk, bake cookies, take a nap, or just lay on your floor staring at the ceiling for 5 minutes; sounds fun, doesn’t it?
In the end, self-care doesn’t have to look impressive or be aesthetic. It’s not about a $20 Erewhon smoothie or a new
Alo workout set, it’s about doing whatever it is to prevent yourself from burning out during the stressful application season.
So the next time you’re scrolling through TikTok and see another “How I got into my dream school” video, skip it and do something that actually makes you FEEL better. Surviving application season will be a lot easier if you learn to take care of yourself first. of students struggle with burnout
27% of teens feel pressure to be exceptional and impressive through their achievements 53%
SELF-CARE Zander Bauer ʼ26 practices self-care by jogging and spending time outside.
7 opinions
Graphics by Camilla Garfield ʼ27 Statistics from Harvard Graduate School of Education
How to create fall vibes
The three A’s to a perfect fall season
Bianca Mastocciolo ʼ26 Creative Director
“Gilmore Girls.” Pumpkin patches. Pumpkin spice lattes. They are the holy trinity of fall. But what else can we do to achieve the perfect, cozy fall vibes? To me, fall feels like a drink warming up your chilly hands, cozy pajamas and the perfect movie setup. But how do we take in that fall coziness and make it more achievable- that's what I'm here for.
Starting with a freshly clean room (hard, I know, yet essential), add some warm tone accessories, whether its ambient warm lighting from your led lights or a cozy weighted blanket. This will bring your room from its summer warmth to its fall coziness. Lighting a candle and turning on your favorite scary movie will always do the trick to bring in those warm vibes and enhance the perfect fall atmosphere. Making a fall playlist with some autumn jazz music is the perfect addition to ambiance on the go. You can have it on during the background of your homework or as you drive to school in the morning and admire the changing colors on the trees.
Atmosphere Activities
TThere are many fun fall activities to do around Westport, ranging from apple picking to haunted hay rides. For the most fall spirit possible, Silverman’s Farm has everything imaginable. You can buy one of their bags to store all your freshly picked apples, and can bake apple pie to share with your family. For those who are fans of something with more thrill, Legends of Fear in Shelton offers a walking trail and haunted hay ride. Both of these attractions provide fun for everyone, whether you want to have a calm day at the apple orchard or a scary night at the haunted hayride.
he weather is quickly shifting from our 70 degree tank top days to our cold nose, zipped up jacket attire. Accessorizing helps us both stay warm and stylish at the same time. Starting with a base of jeans and a casual top, layer a leather jacket or sweater over it, some Uggs, and a scarf if needed. Now we can imagine ourselves as Rory Gilmore in our cable knit sweaters and a hot coffee in hand while also keeping toasty.
Faculty Frightful
Teachers Show Off Their Halloween Spirit
Chloe Mitchell ʼ28 Paper Editor
Spooky season officially begins on Oct. 1. But, something even scarier than the haunted houses and horror movies comes with it; the scramble to find the perfect costume. As you and your friends dig through Spirit Halloween, or doomscroll on Pinterest, you’re not alone. Year after year, Staples teachers are also hard at work to find the perfect costume.
Science Department
English Department
Some of the most creative costumes come from the science department, specifically, office 3004. Designing elaborate costumes has become an annual tradition for the science teachers.
In previous years, they have done M&M’s, Mario Kart, Angry Birds and “Inside Out” characters. The teachers try to utilize resources from home, like old t-shirts and cardboard boxes, to limit costs while creating costumes.
“[When] we did Mario Kart, we were throwing real bananas at each other and pretending to spin out in different classrooms,” Heather Wirkus said.
Every year, the teachers’ goal is to create a fun, yet relatable costume to raise Staples spirit on Halloween.
“Kids always say the spirit is for the seniors,” Iannetta said, “so we hope that kids look forward to it, and [that] it brings kids a sense of joy.”
If you take an English class, chances are, your teacher will be in costume this Halloween.
In the past, the group has dressed as the Scooby Doo gang, Wizard of Oz characters and classic movie monsters.
“[We] put so much pressure on ourselves day to day that it’s a day to let loose. Halloween’s supposed to be a lot of fun,” Mary Katherine Hocking said.
Art Department
Staples art teachers use their creative side in and out of the classroom, especially when it comes to costumes. Whether it be for Halloween or spirit week, Art teacher Angela Simpson loves designing her own costumes.
To create one of her previous costumes, Mary Poppins, she used several different items. To her, it’s more than just wearing a costume; it creates a fun atmosphere and connects her with students.
“The more shy students will kind of smile, and then other people will be like, oh, my gosh, that looks great,” Simpson said. “I like doing it because I can show my more playful side. [I can] let people know that I can let my hair down and be friendly.”
9 features
Photos contributed by Heather Wirkus, Angela Simpson and Alexandra McHale
Spo Fall
Athlete Recognition
Catie
Campagnino ʼ26
Associate Managing Editor
Staples is known for being one of the best schools in the state for its athletic teams. But who actually makes the teams great? The athletes. In September two Staples athletes rose to the top and were nominated for the Ruden Report Athlete of the week.
Chaz Darby ’26
Malena Tortorella ’27
Inklings Ambassador
As fall sports reach their midpoint, Staples athletics are thriving across the board. Teams have carried strong momentum into November fueled by experienced leadership and new talent stepping up. Whether it’s comeback wins, defensive efforts or growing team chemistry, each team has found its rhythm. With playoff season on the horizon, Wreckers athletes are proving their hard work is paying off, setting the stage for an exciting half of the season.
WRECKERS SCORE!
For all fall sports, Staples is ranked in the top 10 within the FCIAC, with the field hockey team even breaking the national rankings.
Brooke Shaughnessy ’26
“
I feel very grateful to be nominated. It shows that the hard work I’ve put in is being recognized.” It is a really good honor to show I am able to have a good balance between school and sports.”
Boys’ Soccer
The boys’ soccer team is having a standout season, opening the season with four straight wins, now holding the second spot in the FCIAC standings. Captain Gabriel Hellman ’26 attributes the team’s success to its unity and drive.
“We set the tone from the start of the season,” Hellman said. “We do a lot to make sure that the camaraderie on the team is great, and that’s really contributed to us having such a
successful season so far.”
Despite a tough 4-3 loss against Greenwich, the team is using this loss as motivation heading into the postseason.
“That loss fuels us—we know we can get them back and finish strong,” Hellman said. contributed to us having such a successful season so far.”
rts
Girls’ Volleyball
Momentum continues to build for the Staples girls’ volleyball team as they move through a strong first half of the season. After some early adjustment, the team has found its confidence.
Recap
“In the beginning of the season, we really didn’t know each other and know how to play with each other,” captain Penelope Eisenberger ’26 said.
“After a couple practices and a few games, we got adjusted to each other, and we really grew.”
That growth came to life in
Field Hockey
After losing several key players from last year, the field hockey squad entered the fall season dedicated its focus to rebuilding connections and cohesion on the field, and is now undefeated and first place in the FCIAC standings.
“We lost a lot of good players going into this year, so I think the first few games were a little rocky,” captain Mary Stevens ’26 said. “But I think that
one of the biggest wins of the year — a straight-sets victory over powerhouse Darien.
“They were the state champs, the FCIAC champs for a long time,” Eisenberger said, “and we beat them in three sets, which is the best we can do, so we were really proud of
Football
Under its new head coach Matthew Jacowleff, the Staples football team has opened the season 4-1, establishing a foundation built on connection, discipline and accountability.
Jacowleff said his transition into the role was made easier by the strong relationships already formed within the program.
Photos contributed by Mary Stevens ’26, Brooke Shaughnessy ’26, Chaz Darby ’26 and Gabe Hellman ‘26 that.” Eisenberger said.
Even with a packed schedule and demanding coursework, the team’s mindset remains steady.
“We really have a lot of potential on this team,” Eisenberger said. “To finish strong is completely possible for us.”
at the place we are now, we’ve just grown a lot, and you can tell by the way we’re playing — we’re a lot more comfortable with each other.”
The team’s perseverance has shown in hard-fought wins, including comeback victories over Wilton and rival Darien.
“Both teams scored first, and we ended up coming back, which really just shows a testament to our perseverance,” Stevens said.
“The transition to becoming head coach has been smooth due to the preexisting relationships with our players and staff that all stayed,” Jacowleff said. “It provides me a huge leg up working in the school as well where I have the opportunity to see our student athletes, develop relationships and show that I care about them past the football field.”
Since taking over, Jacowleff has implemented new structures to balance the demands of academics, athletics and personal life. Practices now end at 6 p.m., and each one begins with a team meeting to set intentions for that day.
“We feel as though this has led to a more cohesive unit,” he said. “It’s also led to an increased and sustained amount of energy.”
Jacowleff praised his players’ drive and leadership for maintaining the team’s standard.
“Accountability starts and ends with our leaders,” he said. “Our players hold themselves to a high standard of preparation which shows clearly on the field on Friday nights.”
A Key to the Past
How lockers are making a 90s comeback
Phoebe Rosenberg ʼ27 Web Editor
Though locker usage for phones starting in November may be a new experience for Staples students, to English teachers Michael Mezzo and Alexandra McHale, lockers weren’t a phone prison when they were in high school; they were much more. Lockers once played the role of an inbox, a meeting spot, storage and more importantly, were representative of a student’s identity. Mezzo and McHale believe that the upcoming phone policy could change how we view and use our lockers, reviving American locker culture that has been a cornerstone in high school movies and TV shows..
“You sort of gathered your stuff, like what you were going to put in your locker when you were in [school] over the summer. Like, I’m going to put up that cool picture of me and so-and-so and
stick that up,” McHale said. “It was like your personality.”
Cell phones have replaced many of the benefits lockers had to offer, but with the upcoming phone ban, students might need to think like their parents did when they were in high school Instead of texting a friend between classes, slip a note into their locker instead. Instead of posting on social media for a friend’s birthday, decorate their locker instead. “[Students are] comfortable with their digital spaces. [Lockers are] a physical space that you can use in the same way,” Mezzo said. “It’s like a practical thing too. It’s a connecting point.”
By reviving lockers, it could solve many of the annoying problems students deal with on a daily basis. From not having a place to put a coat, sneakers for P.E. or books students often forget at home, lockers can offer that storage instead of forcing students to lug around their belongings all day.
“I had a freshman who forgot her sneakers and it was gym day and she was trying to
convince her friend, because she was wearing her UGGs, to give her her sneakers,” McHale said. “You can now wear a winter coat. You can bring a sweater. You can leave it in your locker in case you need it.”
Beyond the practical parts, lockers also give students the chance to be a part of a classic locker culture that has been lost to time. A culture that many students at Staples have only been able to see in movies or shows while not being able to experience themselves. If students see the pros of seeing their lockers as more than just a part of the new phone policy, it could bring back some movie magic students no longer get to experience. “Could you imagine if Angela Chase didn’t
have a locker? She would not know when Jordan Catalano was going to walk by. Could you imagine if, like, Bender didn’t have his locker in the ‘Breakfast Club?’” Mezzo said. “Lockers are like the symbol of the high school experience.”
Graphics from Canva Graphic by Bianca Mastocciolo ’26
Ithe air and we stock up on Swiss Miss hot chocolate packets. Pineapples, mangos and peaches give way to apples, pears and cranberries; tank tops give way to scarves; and AC on low driving to the beach becomes heat on high on the way to school.
Amidst the doom-and-gloom of back to school, there are a couple things that stand out: fall activities. Whether you go to your family farm to pick pumpkins, visit a petting zoo with your younger cousins, or travel up to the apple orchard to pick up some cider, Silverman’s Farm has got you covered.
Silverman’s, the family-run, multi-seasonal orchard, is known for being a fall staple. Not only is the drive past the reservoir and through orange-and-yellow trees a beautiful sight, but Silvermans’ apple cider donuts and freshly made applesauce are what draw people to the farm. Visitors have the option to pick pumpkins or apples and go on a hayride through the many orchards along the hill.
“During the 70’s and 80’s, Silverman’s evolved into a Pick Your Own fruit farm featuring a widespread orchard,” Silverman’s website states. “The farm market features a broad selection of fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty foods.”
While Westport’s farmers market happens every Thursday during the summer, Silverman’s offers new alternatives for the colder months, even sharing a place in many people’s memories with friends and family.
“I love going to Silverman’s with my friends,” Samantha Hermus ’26 said, “we get pumpkins to carve and it’s a fun way to experience fall.”
Fall isn’t the only season that draws people to Silvermans. Fresh vegetables perfect for a family dinner bring many to the farm with their friends, eager to share memories and fresh food from garden to table.
“I live around the corner so I came to pick up some vegetables for dinner tonight,” patron Eileen Daly said. “My go-to fall activity, though, is apple picking. I have plans this weekend to come back with friends.”
ANONYMOUS TEACHER SUBMISSION
Too Far, Not Funny: Pep Rally Humor Crosses the Line
Earlier this month, on a beautiful Friday afternoon, the Staples community gathered for one of the pinnacle traditions of Staples High School, the fall pep rally. Historically one of the most fun events of the year, the students gathered in the stadium as the teams lined the field and the MCs took their spots.
What transpired afterwards, however, was nothing close to traditional. An awkward experience at best, the next hour was filled with insults towards our athletic teams, disguised as roasts, but with jokes that fell flat and instead felt outright mean. Within a very short time, the situation became uncomfortable. Students and faculty alike were not laughing, and instead cringing at the performance they were witnessing.
While the administration has spoken to the faculty to outline changes that will be made in the future (scripts will be reviewed and insults will not be tolerated), it feels like something is missing if we do not address this as a community. This past Spring, Staples became an official “No Place for Hate” school. One of the pillars of the No Place for Hate program is doing your best to be kind to everyone in the school community. Unfortunately this was not on display at the pep rally.
As a school we are much better than this. Teachers who have been here many years can remember a time where the pep rally was extremely positive. Sure, there was an occasional joke made, but they were few and far between. Over the years, the pep rally has become more and more about throwing insults at individuals and teams than it has about celebrating our strong and incredible fall athletes.
To be clear, we all have a responsibility to make sure that Staples is a place where everyone feels respected and treated fairly. This piece is by no means an attempt to single out one particular group,(e.g. admin, MCs, etc) as the main reason for
the dysfunctional pep rally. Together we all should strive to be better. We should celebrate our amazing student athletes, applaud the incredible seasons they have, but also speak out when we are straying from what we know is right.
Congratulations to all our fall teams. You did not get the proper acknowledgement on Pep Rally Friday that you deserve. Know that Staples is behind you and supports you, despite our lackluster Pep Rally this year.
The cost of an “A”
When success is bought, not earned
Lily Ashford ʼ27 Paper Editor
There are many perks to being in a competitive school environment like Staples, one being it pushes you to succeed. However, it also creates the feeling that you need to succeed at any cost. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve started to question how much of Westport’s “academic excellence” comes from an obsession with grades rather than genuine desires to learn.
After coming off a year with average scores, I didn’t feel like I measured up because I compared myself to the perfect standard I saw around me. So, I decided to utilize the resources available to me, and got tutoring for my classes. I can say without a doubt that tutoring has helped me improve, but the thing is, I don’t know if it’s helped me learn more, or just get better grades.
a huge leg up.
According to a 2023 study by the Brookings Institution, “tutoring can raise a student’s GPA by an average of 0.37,” moving a student from the 50th percentile to the 66th. But at what cost?
When students believe their worth comes from a grade, they’ll take any shortcut necessary.
Though students are aware having someone else perfect their assignment counts as cheating, they are raised in a culture that values an “A” above all else. This sidelines the importance of failure and turns learning from mistakes into a competition for perfection. To “win” they rely on companies to complete their work, preferring flawless results over the growth that comes from getting things wrong.
independently often receive a weaker grade because teachers are unknowingly comparing them to assignments polished by professional adults, raising the standard of what an A+ assignment looks like. At Staples, where a B feels like failure, this creates an impossible standard that keeps the cycle alive.
The entire point of school is to prepare
students for the real world. For those relying on outside resources, they might earn the “A” now but fail later, because they never learned how to work through challenges themselves. If success continues to be measured by a score, the curriculum must evolve with the tools students use, so grades actually reflect understanding.
This is due to a different kind of tutoring that has predominantly resided in Westport, one that offers unethical “help.” Unlike the standard aid students receive from tutoringextra practice, in depth answers, focused help - certain companies charging hundreds of dollars per hour with handout copies of tests, or essays entirely rewritten, giving select students
This is not a reflection of laziness in students, but the byproduct of defining a student by their GPA. When students believe their worth comes from a grade, they’ll take any shortcut necessary.
These outside resources also affect students who don’t use outside help. Kids who complete their work
Graphic by Camilla Garfield ʼ27
Photo by Camille Blundell ʼ27
flying over the Atlantic in “James and the Giant Peach” and holding a secret school dance at Itawamba Agricultural High School in “The Prom,” Staples Players has turned their attention to the tumultuous period of 1832 France in “Les Misérables.” Set during the French Revolution, the musical centers on convict Jean Valjean and his desire for redemption as he protects and raises an orphaned girl.
“The process so far has been really fun. I’m really excited about publicizing the show because it is so well known,” Joey Vazquez ’27, who plays Thenardier, the cruel and greedy innkeeper, said. “The community’s response so far through outreach has been very positive and a lot of people are looking forward to seeing this show in 2025 because it carries such an important message.”
“Les Mis” certainly needs no introduction. Victor Hugo started writing it in 1845; it first rocked the West End stage in 1985, and is now the longest
Les Misérables
running play in the London theater system. It then crossed the pond to Broadway in 1987 and became an Oscar-winning movie in 2012, with stars like Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman leading. And now the play will grace the main stage at Staples High School.
“We were looking for a watershed show that would not only get our current Players hugely excited, but bring in a lot of new actors, singers, and
"Les Mis” performances are on Nov 13-15, 20-22 @ 7:00 p.m. and Nov 15-16, 22-23 @ 2 p.m.
people interested in lights, sets, costumes, makeup, sound and all other technical elements,”
Players director David Roth said. “And ‘Les Misérables’ is the biggest of the biggest. We knew it was the show to get not only students excited but the entire Westport community as well.”
The show wouldn’t be possible without the hard work
of the many crews responsible for sets, lighting and costuming.
“The band and orchestra concerts just happened, so now we can really start running through the production of the sets [...] and getting all the work that we needed done,” manager of sets and front of house Grace Sinclair ’26 said “[I’m excited for everyone to see] the turnta ble, because we haven’t used it since my freshman year and it’s a really cool ele ment that we have.”
In addition to the sets and mechan ics that will immerse the crowds into the show, the actors are eager to bring the magic of “Les Mis” to the Staples au ditorium.
“We’ve been rehearsing since Sept. 11, and it has been really such a fantas tic experience,” Maggie Donovan ’28, who plays the orphaned girl, Cosette, said. “This show is very challenging but incredibly rewarding.”
The actors are tasked with per forming some of the most famous songs in musical theater.
“I get to sing ‘I Dreamed A Dream!’ It is such a good song and is so fun to sing,” Cat Betit ’26, who plays Fantine, said.
After months of preparation and hard work, “Les Mis” will premiere Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. and will continue for 10 shows until the 23rd. To see a more de tailed list of performances, as well as the double cast, visit staplesplayers.com.
“The acting? The singing? The sets? The lights? The costumes? The staging?” Roth said, “This is going to be the Sta ples Players event of the decade that you do not want to miss.”
Behind the curtains
everyone from technicians, spot operators, board operators, run crew, slash deck crew and the occasional projection operators. Working tirelessly alongside the entire crew, Maddaloni makes sure every show is problem free. Originally an actor, Maddaloni discovered his freshman year that his talents were better suited for the tech life which he had experienced in eighth grade.
“I did run crew and it was something that my personality just went really well to,” Maddaloni said.
Additionally, the announcement of “Les Misérables” brought an extra special feeling for Maddaloni.
“Les Mis was the show that actually made me realize that I wanted to do theater in college,” Maddaloni said. “I saw it at the Kennedy Center my sophomore year, I was very excited just because as much as I am a technician, I still do love theater so much.”
RUNNING THE SHOW Stage manager Fin Maddaloni ’26 has done theater since kindergarten, and despite the time commitment, loves what they do.
RISING STAR Jonah Sklar '32 joins the cast as Gavroche, the clever, street-smart kid symbolizing the marginalized, and bringing fresh energy to the stage.
Photos contributed by David Roth
CENTER STAGE Seamus Brannigan ’26 rehearses as Enjolras, the charismatic leader of the rebellion, in the scene "Building the Barricade"
SOARING From fierce spikes to unbreakable team spirit, the Staples girls’ varsity volleyball team dominates both on and off the court. Photos contributed by Brian Divino.
Serving up excellence : girls’ varsity volleyball recap
Serena Goldfarbʼ28
Paper Editor
Bump! Set! Hit! The Staples girls’ varsity volleyball team is off to a great 2025 season. The players electrify the court, and have won matches against their toughest opponents. 2025 captains Brooke Shaughnessy ’26, Penelope Eisenberger ’26 and Natalie Sipsma ’26 have led the team to some notable victories early on in the season, such as the Sept. 5. game against Shelton, and a game against Darien on Sept. 27.
“[We] were going point for point with these teams who thought [they] could easily just come in our gym and crush
nessy ’26 said.
After losing to Darien three times in the 2024 season, the team made quite the comeback.
Though the team has been on the road, and not on home court most of the season, that has not brought star players like Shaughnessy ’26 and Sipsma ’26 down.
were practically unstoppable so [we] came into that game this year with a lot of energy and with a lot of determination to win,” Shaughnessy ’26 said. “And just put the mindset that we can beat them and we gave it our all.”
The
opportunity for every player on the team. It’s been a very energetic season, and we’ve had tough losses, but also great wins,” Sipsma ’26 said.
The team this season has come along and has a growing flame of success. The team has grown in their offensive percentage as well, with Middle Hitter Shaughnessy ’26 having a 43.8% kill average, and Outside Hitter Maddie Gray ’28 having a 36.8% kill average this season according to MaxPreps.
“[They] knocked us out of
energy the team shows on and off the court is lively, whether that is preparing to face rivals such as Darien or having fun at an after school practice to improve and utilize new tech-
“[We’ve] been having a blast. [We’ve] played in some great matches and can’t wait for the playoffs,” Girls’ varsity volleyball Coach Jon Shepro said.
Photo contributed by Ms.McHale
Photo contributed by Ms.Wirkus
Graphics by Zander Bauer ‘26
